Satin Skirts for Female Baseball Players
The baseball uniforms that were immortalized by actresses such as Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna in the feature film A League of Their Own would likely be considered sexist — not to mention difficult to play ball in — today. But when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was created in 1943 to fill the void that was left by American men who were at war, the one-piece short-skirted tunics and satin shorts were in line with other women's sporting uniforms of the decade. According to the AAGPBL's official website, femininity took priority over comfort and ease of motion in the women's baseball league, with each player being required to attend charm-school classes, keep up their physical appearance and comply with moral standards and rules of conduct.